Man repeatedly spat at Gardaí and patrol car
A young man who spat repeatedly at Gardaí because he lost his phone on a night out was sentenced to three months in prison by Judge Kevin Kilrane last week.
Student Elton McKenna (20) was walking towards The Mall when he lunged forward and spat into the open window of a Garda car on Bridget Street on 16 th October.
When the Garda got out from the car, McKenna became abusive and threatened to spit at Garda Tighe and Garda Irwin.
He was arrested and en route to Ballymote Garda station he continued to spit in the Garda vehicle. At the Garda station he again spat at the door and threw a set of keys.
IT student McKenna, of Brooklawn, Ballaghderreen, Roscommon, pleaded guilty to abusive behaviour and criminal damage while a charge of being intoxicated was withdrawn.
Defence solicitor Ms Laura Spellman said it was a “disgusting” thing to do but McKenna had “difficult circumstances growing up and had very little by way of family support.”
McKenna told Judge Kilrane that it was after a night out, he had lost his phone and he didn’t know why he spat at the Garda car.
He then complained that when he was in the Garda patrol car the Gardaí had deliberately jammed on the breaks “in order to stop me spitting”. “This is police brutality. They shouldn’t have done [sic] that to me,” he said. “I was annoyed. I wasn’t thinking. I had a big lump on my head,” he said.
“So you were going to take it out on whoever you met?” asked the judge.
“But at least I turned to the police. That’s their job but it’s not their job to abuse me,” said McKenna.
“That’s their job? To take spits from you?” said Judge Kilrane, adding: “He’s got a serious attitude problem this fellow. ”
McKenna then said he had reported the matter to the Garda Ombudsman. Judge Kilrane said he was still trying to understand why McKenna had spat at the Gardaí.
“I wouldn’t spit on a normal person,” said McKenna. “Are the Gardaí normal people?” - Judge.
“Yes but they know how to deal with this. All I saw was police brutality,” replied McKenna.
“This man has no remorse whatsoever,” said the Judge and he sentenced him to three months in prison for the criminal damage charge of spitting in the Garda car.
“Wha?” said McKenna, while Ms Spellman asked the judge to consider giving her client a suspended sentence.
“Of course, if I felt he had remorse, but he has no remorse,” replied Judge Kilrane.
“I’m so sorry that I done [sic] it,” said McKenna suddenly. Judge Kilrane then vacated the sentence and remanded McKenna in custody to a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Friday morning. He was fined ¤300 for spitting and the other charge taken into consideration.